The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration reported revenue numbers this week for cannabis sales for the first quarter of 2020. As of May 15, California’s cannabis excise tax generated $68.3 million in state revenue, and the cultivation tax generated $16.4 million. Sales tax from cannabis businesses totaled $50.2 million. These figures do not include taxes collected by individual cities and towns. Since January 2018, total cannabis state revenue to date is $1.17 billion. The first quarter’s reporting period is unusual, since about half of the taxpayers normally reporting have yet to file a return with the tax and fee administration. Revisions to first quarter 2020 data are expected in mid-August after the second quarter return filing due date of July 31.
